Lets face it, cooking and eating healthy ain't cheap. Fresh produce and quality meats can get very expensive. To help save money, I recommend looking beyond your typical grocery store. Find options for locally grown food in your area. Farmer's Markets and CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) are a great place to start.
Here is why my family eats locally and why I recommend it for my friends and clients:
To find a local Farmer's Market in your area, go here.
To find a local CSA in your area, go here. here.
If you live in the Kingwood/Humble area, here are some of my favorite:
Wood Duck Farm- This is where I get my produce. I like the farmer and their practices and the pickup at Kingwood Garden Center on Wednesdays is fairly convenient for me. I've been out to visit the farm and I like that Farmer Van answers my emails whenever I have a question about growing practices, identifying a vegetable or how to cook something. We buy our shares by the season. It is an adjustment to pay for 10 weeks of produce all at once, but we've worked it into our grocery budget now without a problem.
Between the Oaks Farm- I've met the owner of this farm and I love her enthusiasm for real food. They are a local Kingwood start up and they are committed to helping families in our community learn to eat better. One of my favorite features is that they will deliver the box to your door for an extra $20 a month. For the busy person on the go, I think that is definitely worth the money.
Kingwood Farmer's Market- Located in Town Center every Thursday from 2pm - 6pm (Standard Time) or
3pm - 7pm (Daylight Savings Time). This is a great place to get produce, fresh eggs, organic meats, natural soaps, fresh bread, homemade jams, natural candles and some seriously amazing Indian food. I love chatting with all the vendors. Dustin is seriously committed to his chickens, the Atkins family is always very helpful and the sweet lady who runs the Indian food both always gives me samples. When you have the time, this is a great family shopping experience and you have complete control over what you buy each week. My girls love going to this market and its a nice bonding outing for us. My only complaint is that many of the booths are cash based and I rarely deal with cash anymore.
I hope this helps! Eating locally takes thought and planning, but the benefits are worth it!
Sweat, Smile and enjoy some local produce!
Here is why my family eats locally and why I recommend it for my friends and clients:
- It just tastes better! When food gets from farm to table with fewer steps, it is at its peak ripeness and flavor.
- Local food has more nutrients. When you cut down the travel time, produce is less likely to lose its nutritional value.
- Local foods are safer. Conventional food is treated with chemicals and then shipped long distances. Every place the food comes in contact with is an opportunity for contamination.
- You know exactly how your food was grown. Government regulations for food labels change all the time. "Natural" and "Wholesome" mean absolutely nothing and even "Organic" has become more and more watered down and regulations change. Genetically Modified crops do not have to be labeled at all. Its hard to know exactly what is in your food unless you have a relationship with your farmer. I know how my food is grown because I asked the man who grew it.
- You support your local farmers. We need to keep the people who care about our food in business!
- You will eat more variety. When I buy at the store, I tend to buy the same vegetables all the time. The nice thing about the CSA is that I try new vegetables and I truly end up eating the rainbow with a wide range. Sometimes, I have to google a vegetable or email the farmer, but I like the adventure of something new. It also makes me happy when my kids can identify all the different vegetables.
- Its more affordable.
To find a local Farmer's Market in your area, go here.
To find a local CSA in your area, go here. here.
If you live in the Kingwood/Humble area, here are some of my favorite:
Wood Duck Farm- This is where I get my produce. I like the farmer and their practices and the pickup at Kingwood Garden Center on Wednesdays is fairly convenient for me. I've been out to visit the farm and I like that Farmer Van answers my emails whenever I have a question about growing practices, identifying a vegetable or how to cook something. We buy our shares by the season. It is an adjustment to pay for 10 weeks of produce all at once, but we've worked it into our grocery budget now without a problem.
Between the Oaks Farm- I've met the owner of this farm and I love her enthusiasm for real food. They are a local Kingwood start up and they are committed to helping families in our community learn to eat better. One of my favorite features is that they will deliver the box to your door for an extra $20 a month. For the busy person on the go, I think that is definitely worth the money.
Kingwood Farmer's Market- Located in Town Center every Thursday from 2pm - 6pm (Standard Time) or
3pm - 7pm (Daylight Savings Time). This is a great place to get produce, fresh eggs, organic meats, natural soaps, fresh bread, homemade jams, natural candles and some seriously amazing Indian food. I love chatting with all the vendors. Dustin is seriously committed to his chickens, the Atkins family is always very helpful and the sweet lady who runs the Indian food both always gives me samples. When you have the time, this is a great family shopping experience and you have complete control over what you buy each week. My girls love going to this market and its a nice bonding outing for us. My only complaint is that many of the booths are cash based and I rarely deal with cash anymore.
I hope this helps! Eating locally takes thought and planning, but the benefits are worth it!
Sweat, Smile and enjoy some local produce!
RSS Feed
